Any ME time at all during RN program?

I'm finishing up my pre-reqs and getting ready to apply to RN programs for Fall 2012. I'm a very active guy who works out 5-6 days a week and love living life to the fullest including travel, trying new activities, hobbies, etc. I understand I'll be living, breathing, and eating nursing when the program starts. So I'm hoping to hear from someone like me whose fitness is a major priority in their life...

1) Anyone who works out as regularly as I do have to stop completely? Did you have NO time for things like exercise? How about other activities?

2) I'm also in a long-term relationship...did those of you who are also involved have a very difficult time balancing a relationship/marriage with nursing school?

I just want to get an idea of most people's experience with time outside of nursing when they were in school.

Hi Health Nut,
I just finished my 2nd semester, and I have to tell you, everything changes...including your priorities. So yes, you will have time to be at the gym and work out, but then no, you won't have time to hang out with your significant other. You have to be great at time management or you will fall behind. Are you planning on working at all during your program?
Your first semester will be the most demanding. You will be putting in extra lab hours while practicing, as well as extra time trying to figure out what the heck Care Plans are and how to do them. Also, studying for nursing exams is much different than for A&P, Patho,etc, the tests are based on critical thinking instead of memorization. So, I hate to tell you, but to start off, yes, your life will be devoted to nursing if you want to be a good nurse. And, it really does help to develop good study groups with good study habits.
Good luck!!

I'm finishing up my pre-reqs and getting ready to apply to RN programs for Fall 2012. I'm a very active guy who works out 5-6 days a week and love living life to the fullest including travel, trying new activities, hobbies, etc. I understand I'll be living, breathing, and eating nursing when the program starts. So I'm hoping to hear from someone like me whose fitness is a major priority in their life...

1) Anyone who works out as regularly as I do have to stop completely? Did you have NO time for things like exercise? How about other activities?

2) I'm also in a long-term relationship...did those of you who are also involved have a very difficult time balancing a relationship/marriage with nursing school?

I just want to get an idea of most people's experience with time outside of nursing when they were in school.

Thanks much fellaz!

Glad to hear you're aware of the time and energy commitment of nursing school, I wasn't before I got in. It's not as much about not having time to do the things you love, it's about making the time. If you really enjoy your workouts you can fit 1-2 hours into your day to work out. Granted you might have to cut 1-2 hours out of your nightly beauty rest to make it happen. Luckily I've been single during nursing school so the relationship stressors are absent. I'm sure you can make it work though, just make sure your significant other realizes what a commitment you're making. My best advice is to learn to study smart, not hard. Other students in my class might spend 10-12 hours studying for an exam and get a slightly lower grade than me when I spend 3-4 hours studying for the same exam. It's not that I'm that much smarter than some of my classmates, I just have better study habits. Don't pour your effort into memorizing all 38 side effects of a medication for example, look at the common side effects and the life threatening ones. You'll have some ME time during the program, but you will have to prioritize other parts of your life to figure out how to get that ME time.

Dec 13, '11

Take it or leave it, as my experience may not be typical. I graduate this coming Saturday from an 11 month ABSN program. I had plenty of time to do whatever I wanted during nursing school. I know some people really struggled. However, with a few classes being exceptions (pharm comes to mind), I studied maybe a few hours for most tests. I will be graduating with a GPA between 3.5-3.6. I had a (very) long-term girlfriend going into the program. We broke up a couple months ago, but it had absolutely nothing to do with the program. It was my decision. She was nothing but supportive of me during school and we had plenty of time together as well.

Like I said, I don't claim to speak for anyone other than myself or disparage anyone who put every moment of his time into his program, but for me, it was no big deal.

Dec 13, '11

I just finished up my first semester of a traditional BSN program. I didn't experience any of the stress and whatever else everyone on this board talks about. Even people in my class complained about how busy they were because of school. That is just a negative mindset being pushed by a vocal group in nursing. I lifted hard three times a week, and I did cardio on my odd days. You have all the time you need.

Dec 14, '11

Thanks to you all. I fully expected a range as far as perceived difficulty of the nursing programs, but I'm happy to read that you all think I'll have some time to work out. Great advice about balance, time management, and studying smarter, not harder (actually have a book on this...need to re-read).

Cheers and best of luck everybody!

Dec 14, '11

I think it will really depend on the hours at your school. I do not work out that much but I am married with 2 children, work 1 day a week, and I normally have plenty of time to spend with my family and do other activities. At my school though I only have school related stuff (lecture, lab, clinical) anywhere from 18 - 36 hours a week sometimes even less and every week it changes. However, there's another nursing school in my town and they are in class, lab, and clinical's at least 44 hours a week every week. If your going to have to spend a lot of hours just doing the actual school stuff without studying you'll have a harder time trying to balance it all. You may need to cut back on some things and you really need to manage your time well because studying is an essential in nursing school.

Dec 14, '11

Hi. I just finished my first semester of nursing school (3 more to go). I have a husband and 2 kids. I am not as much as an exercise person as you are, but still have found the time to hang out with friends and family. I exercise too doing Zumba once a week in addition to walking/running the dog. Actually, I find that you definitely need to take care of yourself while going to school. Yes, there is a lot to learn, but you also need plenty of rest to absorb the information you have learned and have your mind clear for the next day. The stuff you have learned goes into long term memory during sleep. Exercise, of course, is very important for our minds and bodies... It helps us de-stress and when we are not stressed out, we think more clearly. During study time, take a break every 45 minutes... go for a run or bike ride, stretch, hike whatever.. While you are doing this, you can think about what you have just learned... this will help you remember it.

As for your s.o., I think the best thing you can do is to talk to them. Hopefully that person is supportive and will know that once you meet your goal, your lives will be that much better. They need to know that things will be different. Encourage them to plan activities with others and hopefully your relationship is solid enough for you to do that. When you are together, you can always read your textbook to them.... that will put them to sleep and you can continue studying...

Good luck!

Dec 14, '11

Honestly, I know there's a lot of hype about nursing being the worst thing ever, but it's not. It is not the most difficult thing I have ever done, and it won't be for you either. Everyone in my class is in a long-term relationship of some sort. I work all the time. It doesn't change what I do in school. To be quite frank, those of us in my cohort who are the most hands off when it comes to school appear to be the most successful. Those that freak out and stress over every insignificant thing do not. Don't bury your head in the book for the next couple of years. Live your life because you won't get those years back. I can honestly say that I did not read any of my books this semester - not one page, and I did fine.

Dec 14, '11

HealthNut,
I was sort of in the same boat as you. I was working out 3-4 times a week and was in a long term relationship. As I am starting my second semester in the ADN program, I haven't found the time and effort to work out like I used to. I started to get lazy because my mind was exhausted. My boyfriend and I live in an apartment together so I work two jobs to help pay rent. If you are able to keep up with your commitments kudos to you. You will have to make some time sacrifices whether its with your workouts, job or girlfriend. I chose to make my boyfriend a top priority and I'm glad I did.